The Election Commission of India announced today that elections for the Assembly in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu will be held in a single phase, while polling in West Bengal will take place in two phases. Announcing the election schedule in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that voting in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will be held on April 9, while in Tamil Nadu, polling will take place on April 23.
In West Bengal, voting will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and 29. The first phase in the state will cover 152 Assembly constituencies, and the second phase will cover 142 constituencies. Counting of votes for all four states and the Union Territory will be held on May 4. The notification for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will be issued tomorrow.
The notification for Tamil Nadu and for the first phase of the Assembly polls in West Bengal will be issued on March 30. Notification for the second phase of polling in West Bengal will be issued on April 2.
Mr. Kumar said that with the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect immediately in the states and the Union Territory.
Mr. Kumar said that over 17 crore people are eligible to vote in these elections, which cover 824 constituencies. This includes over 6 crore voters in West Bengal, nearly 6 crore in Tamil Nadu, nearly three crore in Kerala, over two crore in Assam, and over nine lakh in Puducherry. He added that more than two lakh polling stations will be set up, and nearly 25 lakh election officials will be deployed across the states and the Union Territory.
The Chief Election Commissioner said that directions have been issued to ensure assured minimum facilities, such as drinking water, toilets, and signage, at every polling station. He added that the Commission has recently introduced 30 new initiatives to make the election process more transparent. Mr. Kumar also said that there will be a maximum of 1,200 electors at each polling station, and 100% webcasting will be ensured for round-the-clock monitoring.
Mr. Kumar informed that the term of the 294-member Legislative Assembly of West Bengal ends on May 7, the 126-member Assembly of Assam on May 20, and the 140-member Assembly of Kerala on May 23. The term of the 234-member Assembly in Tamil Nadu ends on May 10, while the 30-member Assembly in Puducherry will complete its term on June 15.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that in the past few days, the Election Commission of India has visited all the states that will go to the polls to review preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections.
During these visits, the Commission met recognized political parties and received their suggestions. It also held meetings with Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries, and Directors General of Police. He said that these elections represent not only a democratic exercise but also showcase India’s cultural richness and reflect the country’s unity in diversity.
